0
Although, the aviation industry has tremendous benefits, it is still necessary to understudy the adverse effects on the environment and climate which greatly contributes to issues of global warming and pollution. This presentation therefore sets out to discuss how aviation activities affect the environment. We shall consider the Impact of aviation on environment with emphasis on Noise; Pollution from aviation activities; the Impact of aviation on climate change with emphasis on Global Warming; and Efforts geared towards better aviation experience with emphasis on Environment.
Impact of Aviation on Environment – Noise
One salient issue that tends to be overlooked if not ignored is the Noise Pollution caused by aircrafts on the local residents in the vicinity of the airport and under flight paths. Although issues surrounding noise arising from aircraft operations as it affects the local community is a controversial topic, it is however a statement of fact that aviation industry exposes local residents and her Workforce to noise problems.
Public health and environmental health officials have set limits or make recommendations about limits that should not be exceeded. A limit of 55decibel (dB) is regarded as one which should not be exceeded to protect undisturbed sleep; and sound levels above 70decibel(dB) have been reported as making normal speech communication impossible (European Environment Agency,1995).
Effect of Noise
Noise is not just a form of disturbance:
❌it damages health, it detracts significantly from the quality of life;
❌it stops local residents from enjoying quiet time and peace;
❌it damages and scares wildlife;
❌it affects the learning ability and concentration of school children within the airport host community/vicinity;
❌it causes mental disorders;
❌it brings about hearing impairment;
Some of these effects will however require a long term exposure to noise over many years. For example, some people living in the immediate vicinity of an airport or under a flight path; while others may require only one event in the middle of the night, e.g sleep disturbances (more details are discussed in WHO ,1993). The study of noise arising from an aircraft can be debatable because noise produced by airplanes is mostly short-lived however, according to the World Health Organizations (WHO) document 1993 which reviewed the international scientific evidence on the effects of noise pollution.
Pollution From Aviation Activities
Airports are significant contributors to air pollution and elevated levels of particulate pollutants that are known to cause damage to human health. Aircraft engine combust fuel to emit water vapour, nitrogen oxides (Nox), carbon monoxide and soot. Nitrogen-oxides emitted by aircrafts contribute to global warming and is a pollutant in the lower atmosphere, just as it destroys the stratospheric ozone layer in the high altitudes.
The Nitrogen-oxides so emitted impair respiratory cell function and damage blood capillaries and the cells of the immune system. It could also increase susceptibility to infection and aggravate asthma. In children, exposure may result in cough, colds, phlegm, shortness of breath, chronic wheezing and other respiratory diseases including bronchitis.
The pollutants emitted by aircrafts at high level like the Carbon-monoxide (Co) could cause headaches, drowsiness, nausea and at high level death; while at low level, it can impair concentration and nervous system functions and cause excessive related heart pain in people with coronary heart disease. Emissions from higher altitude pose a greater danger because it triggers a series of chemical reactions and atmospheric effects cover wider areas.
Impact of Aviation on Climate Change – Global Warming
The most important aviation derived factors affecting the atmosphere are Carbon-monoxide, Nitrogen-oxides, Water Vapour, Contrails, etc. For this presentation, our emphasis will be on NOX and CO with respect to their impact on the atmosphere.
Aircraft emissions of exhaust gas pollutants into the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere interact in these sensitive part of the atmosphere and are responsible for changes in Ozone and methane concentration, thus forming Contrails.
CO emissions accumulate in the atmosphere and have a direct radiative forcing effect irrespective of the size and height of emissions. Nox emissions from the aircraft have a different impact compared to the CO, depending on the location of the emissions, for example in the northern hemisphere. NOx emissions from aircraft are increasing ozone concentration at cruise levels in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere.
It is worthy of note that all the gas emissions from aircraft are directly released into the higher level of the atmosphere, thus making aviation one of the fastest growing sources of green house emissions and one of the biggest pollutants driving global climate change.
Efforts Geared Toward Better Aviation Activities
With a view to minimizing the adverse effects of aviation activities on the global climate, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has formulated policies, updates, Standards and Recommended Practices(SARP’s) on aircraft emissions and also conducts outreach activities on routine basis. These activities are conducted by the secretariat and the Committee on Aviation and Environmental Protection (CAEP).
ICAO liaises with United nations bodies organizations and other international organizations to carry out various activities towards ensuring a better climate experience. The main overarching ICAO policy on aircraft noise is the Balanced Approach to Aircraft Noise Management adopted by the ICAO assembly in its 33rd session(2001). The Balanced Approach consists of identifying the noise problems at a specific airport and analyzing various measures available to reduce noise through exploration of options available.
The goal of the Balanced Approach to Aircraft Noise reduction is to address noise problems on individual airport basis and to identify the noise related measures that can achieve maximum environmental benefits, and most cost effective using objective and measurable criteria.
ICAO environmental goal is to limit or reduce to the barest minimum the impact of aviation emissions on local air quality. ICAO has worked towards developing efforts to address emissions from aircraft engine in the vicinity of an airport. Volume 11 of Annex 16 of the convention to ICAO contains Standards for Aircraft Engine Emissions and is accompanied by related guidance materials and technical documentation.
References
- Air Transportation and Human Health, B. S.Cohen,2021
- Encyclopedia of Environmental Health, 2021
- Climate change mitigation in aviation sector, a critical overview of national and international initiatives, published by Cambridge University Press, 2022
- NCAA guidance on the development of environmental management plan Doc-AC-ARD035
- ICAO environmental report, 33rd general assembly, 2001
- European Environmental Agency report on noise pollution, 1995
- World health organization (WHO) report on hazardous effects of noise pollution, 1993
- Volume 11, Annex 16 of the Convention to ICAO.
